mcgee



I//// Ill/j J. L. McGEE.

CULVERT MOLD. APPLICATION FILED DEC-22, I914.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

III/[Ill I llllll' HHHI HHIH IHIHIH Suva whom JZLMG Gee Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

J. L. McGEE.

CULVERT MOLD.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-22, 1914.

1,1 93,282. Patented Au g. 1,1916.

2 SHEETQ-SHEET 2.

y JLHMcaee 4 JOHN IA. MCGEE, OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

CULVERT-MOLD.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug, 1, 1915.,

- Application filed December 22, 1914. Serial No. 878,566.

the art to which it appertains to make and" use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in culvert molds, and has for its principal obj eot to provide a device which will effectively provide a collapsible core for culverts and thelike.

Another object of the invention is to provide a metallic core of the above character which will effectively support the concrete or similar material from which the culvert is made.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novelmeans for constructi'ngcon crete culverts in which there is an expansible core used and braces for expandingsaid core cooperating therewith.

Still another object of the'invention is to provide a novel form of expanding brace for holding the core in proper position.

Nith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts which will be fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is aside view in elevation of a culvert core constructed in accordance with this invention, Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 20f the modified form of the device, and Fig. 4: is an end viewof the lower'portion of the core.

Referring now to the drawings bycharac ters of reference,the numeral 1 designates bed of the stream or ditch over which the culvert is to be built. The numeral 2 designates the side walls of said stream which are preferably prepared by grading to cause them to become practically vertical. A concrete base 3 is then pouredinto the ditch on the bed so as to completely overlie the same for the width of the culvert, and this base is designed to form a support for the mold which will be more fully hereinafter described.

The mold hereinbefore referred to comprises the two bodies which cooperate with each other and are designatedby the numerads 4 and 5, and these bodies are preferably formed of sheet metal and shaped in a manner which will be more fully hereinafter described. The body 5 above referred to comprises the arcuate strip of sheet metal 6 which is preferably slightly hardened to give the same the necessary resilience to cause the ends to turn upwardly as shown by the full lines in Fig. 4. The cooperating member t comprises the arcuate sheet metal body 7 which is provided along its lower edges with suitable apertures 8 through which the loops 9 ofthe bars 10, extend. These bars 10 are threaded at their free ends as at 11 and these threaded portions are clesigned to cooperate with the turn buckle 12 in order that the device maybe adjusted for culverts of different sizes.

The braces hereinbefore mentioned preferably comprise the arcuate bodies 13 which are twisted at their ends as at 1a to form the inwardly extending ears 15. Each of these ears is apertured toreceive the rivets 16 by means of which the cooperating members 17, which are pivoted together at their adjacent ends as at 18, are pivotally secured to the ears. Each of these members is provided with an aperture adjacent its pivot 18 through which a suitable rivet 19 projects, and this rivet extends beyond the face of the member 17 to form a stop for a purpose which will be more fully hereinafter described. The ends of the members 17 are extended as at 20 and notched as at 21 to engage the rivet 19 and hold the members in the position illustrated in Fig. 2.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that in use the streamor ditch is first prepared by straightening the walls so that they are vertical or nearly so and the bottom is then coveredwith a relatively thin layer of concrete. The member 6 of the mold is then placed on the concrete and pressed slightly thereinto as clearly shown in Fig. 2 so as to hold the side in proper position. The upper section t of the mold is then placed in position so that the lateral extremities thereof lie between the lateral extremities of the member 5 andthe turn buckles 12 are then tightened on 1 their respective rods 10 so that the ends thereof are contracted to the proper position. The braces 15 are then placed in position with the members 17 in the position illustrated in the dotted lines in Fig. 2, and upon forcing the members into the position illustrated by the full lines in Fig. 2, it will be apparent that the braces 13 will engage the member 7 and force the same into i the position shown.

This operation is performed before the conover the mold and tamped around the sides between the walls 2 and the stream and the members 4 and 5 of the mold. After the mold has been completely covered and the concrete set, the members 17 are again'forced into the position illustrated by thedotted lines in Fig. 2, thus permitting the brace members 13 to be removed. The turn buckle 12 is then tightened so that the edges of the upper portion 4 of the mold will be drawn inwardly, tlius'collapsing the same and permitting itto be easily removed. After this member has been disposed of, the member 5 may be easily removed, and it will be apparent that a simple and efficient device for forming the culvert is provided which may be easily placed in position or removed at the desire of the user. 7

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3, the body 7 instead of being arcuat e is flattened on the top as at 22 as are the brace members 23, while the remaining portion of the mold is essentially the same as that previously described.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that such changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as will fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

WVhat is claimed is: V

1. A concrete mold of the character described including an upper and lower arcuate body, the upper body being designedto fit within the lower body, brace elements to expand the bodies in operative position, and means connected to one of the bodies independent of the brace rod to contract the same after the brace rod has been removed to enable the mold to be easily removed.

2. A concrete mold of the character described including an upper and lower arcu- I ate body, the upper body being designed to having one end terminating into eyes secured in the openings in the edges of the upper body a turn buckle on their threaded ends adjoining the side walls of the upper body toward one another after the brace rods have been removed to facilitate the easy removal of the bodies when in use.

In testlmony whereof I affix my signature .in presence of two witnesses.

' JOHN L-MoGEE.

lVitnesses: g

W. K. SMITH, Gino. H. FERGUSON;

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

